VIABILITY STAINING METHOD - The invention relates to a method of detecting viable cells in a cell sample, using a membrane permeable fluorescent label that permeates both viable and non-viable cells and a membrane impermeant quencher that selectively permeates non-viable cells.

11-21-2013

20120058487

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE - Four highly conserved genes, encoding translation elongation factor Tu, translation elongation factor G, the catalytic subunit of proton-translocating ATPase and the RecA recombinase, are used to generate species-specific, genus-specific, family-specific, group-specific and universal nucleic acid probes and amplification primers to rapidly detect and identify algal, archaeal, bacterial, fungal and parasitical pathogens from clinical specimens for diagnosis. The detection of associated antimicrobial agents resistance and toxin genes are also under the scope of the present invention.

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR STAINING AND MICROSCOPY - Devices and methods for preparing and assessing a liquid sample are described which include: a microfluidic microscopy device including an absorbent structure including at least one dry dye for a liquid and configured to convey a polar liquid from a first end of the absorbent structure through the at least one dry dye for a liquid to a second end of the absorbent structure, a support structure positioned adjacent to a first surface of the absorbent structure, a lid structure positioned adjacent to a second surface of the absorbent structure, and a clamping structure positioned to maintain a relative position of the support structure and the lid structure to form a tapered internal chamber adjacent to the second end of the absorbent structure.

Methods and compositions for determining the pathogenic status of infectious agents - The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improved detection of infectious agents and microbes. In particular, the present invention provides novel methods for detecting infectious agents, providing information about the viability status of such infectious agents and for determining drug susceptibility. In certain embodiments, the present invention employs techniques involving nucleic acid amplification-based microbial identification together with phage-based biological detection of drug resistance. The methods of the invention are suitable for all microbes and infectious agents, including bacterial agents such as Mycobacteria.

09-01-2011

20140178891

Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Disorders Characterized by Undesirable Cell Proliferation - The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the reduction of atherosclerotic plaques and the decrease in the level of total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, serum LDL cholesterol, and serum HDL cholesterol. The present invention also relates to methods for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and mycoplasma associated diseases, cardiotoxicity related to cancer treatment, and Chagas disease related cardiomyopathies.

Direct and Continuous Root Alone or Root/Shoot Production from Transgenic Events Derived from Green Regenerative Tissues and Its Applications - The present invention provides assays and methods for efficiently testing a polynucleotide of interest for a phenotype in a root. In some embodiments, the assays and methods include regenerating green tissue that is transgenic for at least one polynucleotide of interest into one or more transgenic plantlets that have at least one transgenic root. Further provided are methods of making a root assay by contacting green tissue with a first rooting medium to produce a plantlet and a plurality of roots. Additionally provided are methods of assaying for insecticidal activity on a live root. Accordingly provided herein is a substantially contamination-free, root bioassay. Further provided are methods of identifying a promoter having activity in a root.

02-05-2015

20150037806

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A PATHOGEN IN A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE - Disclosed herein, inter alia, is method, kit and systems for detecting a pathogen infection in a bodily sample, the method comprising (i) staining said bodily sample with two or more dyes, comprising at least one dye predominantly staining DNA to thereby provide differential staining between DNA and at least one other cellular component being different from DNA; (ii) identifying at least a first stained area comprising the DNA, if exists in the sample, and at least one other stained area comprising the other cellular component; (iii) extracting structural features for the first stained area and the at least one other stained area, said structural features comprise at least one of (i) size of at least one of the first stained area and one other stained area and (ii) location of said first stained area and said at least one other stained area one with respect to the other; and (iv) determining the presence of a suspected pathogen in the bodily sample if a first stained area was identified and said structural features conform to structural features predetermined as characterizing the suspected pathogen.

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION - The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for disrupting cells (e.g., disrupting cellular and nuclear membranes). In particular, the invention provides modified solid surfaces (e.g., bead surfaces) and their use in disruption of cellular membranes (e.g., during cellular lysis procedures (e.g., for recovery of nucleic acid (e.g., DNA or RNA) from mechanical cell lysis)). Compositions and methods of the invention find use in a wide range of applications including molecular biology and medical science.

ANALYZING BACTERIA WITHOUT CULTURING - The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most

10-27-2011

20150056628

DETECTION AND TYPING OF BACTERIAL STRAINS - Methods for the detection and typing of bacterial strains from food products and dietary supplements, environmental samples, in vivo/in vitro samples, and for studying the natural diversity of the species are disclosed. Potential applications also include product development and/or detection and differentiation of new bacterial strains.

02-26-2015

20140248630

METHODS AND KITS USED IN THE DETECTION OF FUNGUS - The invention encompasses method of using quantitative PCR to detect fungal organisms in clinical and environmental samples to generate standards that allow the quantification of fungal organisms in the samples.

09-04-2014

20130337464

ARSENIC ASSAY USING ELISA - The invention relates to a process involving analyzing the presence of arsenic in a sample, comprising the following steps:

12-19-2013

20130059313

ANALYTE QUANTIFICATION USING FLOW INDUCED DISPERSION ANALYSIS - A method for quantitative characterization of non-covalent interactions and analyte quantification in nanoliter samples is described. The procedure is based on Flow Induced Dispersion Analysis (FIDA), of which the only system requirements is a narrow tube, capillary or channel equipped with a detector. The technique can be implemented using standard equipment such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) or Capillary Electrophoresis (CE).

APTAMERS - A nucleic acid aptamer comprising the nucleotide sequence shown herein as SEQ ID No. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 2, 3 or 4 or a fragment thereof or a sequence which is at least 80% identical therewith and use of nucleic aptamers to detect the presence of pathogenic bacteria in a sample, particularly in a complex matrix—such as a food system.

02-26-2015

20140087389

DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF PARTICLES - A detection apparatus and method for the automatic detection of particles, in particular biological particles, in a sample. The detection apparatus comprises a detection device for recording the particles, and a fluidic device for automatically conveying the sample to the detection device. The fluidic device comprises a treatment device for the automatic treatment of the particles for the purpose of detection, and the detection device comprises a flow cytometer for recording at least one physical parameter of the treated particles. The detection method includes operations performed by the detection device, the fluidic device, the treatment device and the flow cytometer.

Synthesis And Use Of Fluorophore-Tagged Antimalarials - This invention includes a fluorophore-tagged antimalarial represented by the following structural formula (1) or a salt thereof. This invention relates to the synthesis of fluorophore-tagged antimalarials and describes the synthesis of a fluorophore-tagged antimalarial. These fluorophore-tagged antimalarials can be used to image live cells to determine the location of the antimalarial in the cell, identify drug resistance and growth related pathways in

CELL CAPTURE SYSTEM AND USE THEREOF - The invention relates to a cell capture system for use in determining the presence and/or amount of cells, for example, viable cells, in a liquid sample, and to methods of using such a cell capture system.

11-28-2013

20150337349

Microbiome Modulation Index - The disclosure provides methods and systems for characterizing the effects of an agent on one or more microbial communities.

11-26-2015

20130266955

EFFERVESCENT COMPOSITIONS AND USES THEREOF - A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.

METHODS OF ELONGATING NUCLEIC ACIDS - The invention generally relates to methods for elongating nucleic acid, such as DNA, on a charged substrate. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve contacting an applicator to a sample including a nucleic acid, and swabbing the applicator on a charged substrate, thereby elongating the nucleic acid on the substrate.

01-31-2013

20140335534

Method And System For Identifying A Biomarker Indicative Of Health Condition - By designing a retrogression-progression model in combination with oral microbial community analysis, the present invention provides a method of identifying a biomarker indicative of a subject mammal's condition, wherein the condition is selected from presence of the first disease, severity of the first disease, sensitivity to the first disease, and combinations thereof. The present invention further provides a computer-aided system of identifying a biomarker indicative of a subject mammal's condition.

11-13-2014

20140287424

SLIDE CHIP FOR DETECTION SENSOR OF FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to a slide chip for a sensor for detection of food-borne bacteria and a fabrication method thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a slide chip for a sensor for detection of food-borne bacteria and a fabrication method thereof, the slide chip comprising: a substrate coated with a metal; a linker having a substituent which may be bonded to the metal and is located at the 5′ end of deoxythymidine (dT); and a food-borne bacterium-derived RNA aptamer that is bound to the linker by the 3′-end poly A tail. The slide chip makes it possible to detect food-borne bacteria in a rapid and accurate manner.

09-25-2014

20120009588

LIVE BIOLOAD DETECTION USING MICROPARTICLES - The present invention provides methods to concentrate cells onto microparticles, to concentrate the microparticles, and to detect the cells. The present invention also includes unitary sample preparation and detection devices to be used in accordance with the methods.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING MICROORGANISMS IN A WATER SAMPLE - The invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining presence of microorganisms in, e.g., sea water or other water samples. Means are provided for taking a sample of the water to be tested, moving it through a series of reservoirs, and combining it with an indicator, such as a dye, which binds to DNA of any microorganisms in the sample. Any binding of indicator is measured by, e.g., a spectrofluorometer, or other device suitable for measuring the indicator.

MOLECULAR INDICIA OF CELLULAR CONSTITUENTS AND RESOLVING THE SAME BY SUPER-RESOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES IN SINGLE CELLS - Methods and systems are provided for creating molecular barcodes or indicia for cellular constituents within single cells and for resolving such barcodes or indicia with super resolution technologies such as super resolution microscopy. By this approach, numerous molecular species that can be measured simultaneously in single cells. It has been demonstrated that multiple mRNA transcripts can be labeled with a spatially ordered sequence of fluorophores, and that barcode can be resolved. The methods and systems can be used for genome-wide transcriptional profiling in individual cells by super-resolution barcoding and suggest a general strategy to bring large-scale-omics approach into single cells.

06-07-2012

20140141447

Orotate Transporter Encoding Marker Genes - A recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide construct comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, a cell comprising at least one exogenous copy of the marker gene, and a method of selecting or identifying a cell comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, and/or selecting or identifying a cell which has been cured of the recombinant marker gene.

05-22-2014

20120171692

Composition For Use In Identification Of Bacteria - The present invention provides oligonucleotide primers and compositions and kits containing the same for rapid identification of bacteria by amplification of a segment of bacterial nucleic acid followed by molecular mass analysis.

07-05-2012

20130040305

COMPOSITIONS, METHODS AND USES FOR BIOSYNTHETIC PLASMID INTEGRATED CAPTURE ELEMENTS - Embodiments herein report compositions, systems and methods for making and using plasmid vectors and nanotube complexes. In certain embodiments, compositions, systems and methods herein include making plasmid vectors having aptamer inserts. In some embodiments, methods disclosed herein may be used to rapidly generate large quantities of plasmid vectors having aptamer inserts directed to a particular target agent. Other aspects concern plasmid constructs associated with organic semiconductors. Yet other aspects concern complexes of nanotubes associated with dsDNA aptamers and tracking molecules.

MODULAR COMPOSITING-MULTIPLE LOT SCREENING PROTOCOLS FOR DETECTION OF PATHOGENS, MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS AND/OR CONSTITUENTS - Particular aspects provide a method of sampling, testing and validating test lots (e.g., single-unit production lots), comprising: assembling a plurality of product portions from each of a plurality of test lots and combining the collected product portions to provide a corresponding set of test lot samples (wherein each test lot sample is attributed to a particular corresponding test lot); enriching the set of test lot samples; removing equal portions of each enriched sample, and combining the removed portions to provide a modular composite sample; and testing of the modular composite sample for the target agent/organism, wherein where such testing is positive, individual test lots may nonetheless yet be validated by further testing of a respective enriched test lot sample and obtaining a negative test result. The methods have broad utility for monitoring all sorts of test lots (e.g., environmental lots, production lots, pharmaceutical lots, etc.) and for efficiently affecting informed, targeted remedial measures.

07-11-2013

20130217029

SYSTEM FOR AIRBORNE BACTERIAL SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS - An aerosol biological collector/analyzer, and method of collecting and analyzing an aerosol sample for diagnosis is provided. In particular, the current invention is directed to an airborne aerosol collection and bacterial analysis system and method, capable of collecting an airborne aerosol sample and preparing it for analysis via aerodynamic shock in a single-step.

08-22-2013

20120082997

TAGGANTS AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A composition of matter which comprises a non-gaseous nitrogen containing compound; and a spore of a micro-organism. A method of determining a source of a material the material being an explosive or a substance used in the preparation of the explosive, the material comprises a spore of a micro-organism uniquely associated with the material, the method comprises inducing the spore to transform into a vegetative micro-organism and identifying the micro-organism as being associated with the material, thereby determining the source of the material.

04-05-2012

20130029347

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR IMMOBILIZING NUCLEIC ACIDS - The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for immobilizing nucleic acids on a substrate. In certain embodiments, devices of the invention include a voltage source, and a substrate coupled to the voltage source, in which hydrophobicity of the substrate changes in response to an applied electric field and a surface of the substrate is coated with a substance that retains nucleic acids.

01-31-2013

20110300552

Systems and Methods for Determining Drug Resistance in Microorganisms - The present invention is based on the discovery that drug resistance in microorganisms can be rapidly and accurately determined using mass spectrometry. A mass spectrum of an intact microorganism or one or more isolated biomarkers from the microorganism grown in drug containing, isotopically-labeled media is compared with a mass spectrum of the intact microorganism or one or more isolated biomarkers from the microorganism grown in non-labeled media without the drug present. Drug resistance is determined by predicting and detecting a characteristic mass shift of one or more biomarkers using algorithms. The characteristic mass shift is indicative that the microorganism is growing in the presence of the drug and incorporating the isotopic label into the one or more biomarkers, resulting in change in mass.

12-08-2011

20110294135

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ANALYTE DETECTION AND QUANTITATION - The present invention relates to methods and compositions useful for the detection and quantitation of analytes. The present invention has particular applicability to the detection and quantitation of analytes in samples of biological origin or that interact with biological systems.

MODULAR COMPOSITING-MULTIPLE LOT SCREENING PROTOCOLS FOR DETECTION OF PATHOGENS, MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS AND/OR CONSTITUENTS - Particular aspects provide a method of sampling, testing and validating test lots (e.g., single-unit production lots), comprising: assembling a plurality of product portions from each of a plurality of test lots and combining the collected product portions to provide a corresponding set of test lot samples (wherein each test lot sample is attributed to a particular corresponding test lot); enriching the set of test lot samples; removing equal portions of each enriched sample, and combining the removed portions to provide a modular composite sample; and testing of the modular composite sample for the target agent/organism, wherein where such testing is positive, individual test lots may nonetheless yet be validated by further testing of a respective enriched test lot sample and obtaining a negative test result. The methods have broad utility for monitoring all sorts of test lots (e.g., environmental lots, production lots, pharmaceutical lots, etc.) and for efficiently affecting informed, targeted remedial measures.

POST PROTEIN HYDROLYSIS REMOVAL OF A POTENT RIBONUCLEASE INHIBITOR AND THE ENZYMATIC CAPTURE OF DNA - The present invention concerns compositions and methods of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The present invention also concerns materials and methods for removing aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) from a sample.

05-23-2013

20130130270

FILTRATION METHODS AND DEVICES - A method of filtering a liquid sample that includes passing a sample comprising at least one biological organism through a filter membrane at a water volume flux of at least 100 L/m

USE OF ACHROMOPEPTIDASE FOR LYSIS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE - A process for detecting the presence or absence of gram-positive bacteria in a biological sample. The biological sample can be obtained from any mammal and contains, at a minimum, cellular components. The sample is combined with an enzymatic lysing agent such as achromopeptidase, and lysed at room temperature. Ferric oxide is then added to the sample containing achromopeptidase. A magnetic field is applied to the sample and nucleic acids are extracted from the cellular components. Target nucleic acids, if present, are amplified using techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and then used to detect the presence or absence of gram-positive bacteria.

11-10-2011

20140051089

METHOD FOR DETECTING MICROORGANISMS - Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with an enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, and detecting modification or the absence of modification of the substrate, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE SELECTIVE DETECTION OF MICROORGANISMS - Methods and devices are provided for the rapid and specific detection of target microorganisms, cells, and the like. In one embodiment, the methods involve contacting a target microorganism (e.g., in a sample) with a permeabilization reagent that selectively permeabilizes or lyses the microorganism; contacting the selectively permeabilized microorganism with a detection reagent that is taken into the selectively permeabilized organism or that contacts metabolites or enzymes released by the selectively permeabilized microorganism, where the detection reagent produces a signal in the presence of said metabolites or enzymes; and detecting a signal produced by the detection reagent in the presence of the metabolites or enzymes wherein the strength of the signal indicates the presence and/or amount of the target microorganism in the sample.

MUTANT APOPROTEIN OF PHOTOPROTEIN WITH LOW CALCIUM SENSITIVITY - Calcium-binding photoproteins showing the luminescence pattern with a slow decay of are desired. The invention provides a mutant apoprotein comprising an amino acid sequence wherein the 23rd to 34th amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 are substituted with an amino acid represented by formula I below: Xaa23-Xaa24-Xaa25-Xaa26-Xaa27-Xaa28-Xaa29-Xaa30-Xaa31-Xaa32-Xaa33-Xaa 34; having a function to bind to the peroxide of coelenterazine or the peroxide of a coelenterazine analogue to form a photoprotein capable of emitting light under the action of calcium ions; and, having a half decay time of the luminescence emitted by binding of the photoprotein to calcium ions being not less than 2 seconds.

10-11-2012

20120208201

ENHANCED GENE EXPRESSION IN ALGAE - The invention provides a system of enhancing the expression of transgenes in algae. Transgenes are engineered to have a binding site for certain proteins in proximity to their promoter, for example a LexA binding site. The algae is also engineered to express a nucleosome alteration protein fused to a protein with affinity to the DNA binding site acting in coordination. An example is a LexA-p300 fusion protein, where the p300 is derived from

PROCESS FOR IMPROVED PROTEIN EXPRESSION BY STRAIN ENGINEERING - This invention is a process for improving the production levels of recombinant proteins or peptides or improving the level of active recombinant proteins or peptides expressed in host cells. The invention is a process of comparing two genetic profiles of a cell that expresses a recombinant protein and modifying the cell to change the expression of a gene product that is upregulated in response to the recombinant protein expression. The process can improve protein production or can improve protein quality, for example, by increasing solubility of a recombinant protein.

Intestinal Permeability Assay for Neurodegenerative Diseases - A method of identifying a subject at risk of developing or having a neurodegenerative disorder is provided. The method includes obtaining a biological sample from the subject and assaying a level of a marker of intestinal permeability in the sample. The method further includes comparing the subject's level to a control level for the marker of intestinal integrity and identifying the subject having an increased intestinal permeability relative to the control intestinal permeability as having an increased risk of developing or having a neurodegenerative disorder. A method of monitoring the efficacy of a treatment for a neurodegenerative disorder is also provided.

05-29-2014

20140038200

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR AMPLIFYING A DETECTABLE SIGNAL - Methods and materials are disclosed relating to an improved method for amplifying a signal in a diagnostic assay for a nucleic acid, comprising the steps of providing an amplification polymer bound to a nucleic acid analyte, wherein the amplification polymer comprises a plurality of amine groups; binding amine groups on the amplification polymer with a detectable label complex; and reacting under high salt conditions an acetylating compound with amine groups not bound with a detectable label complex.

Microfluidic Device Screening Method - The invention provides methods of screening a microbial host cell for a property of interest in a microfluidic device, the method comprising the steps of: a) transforming a d-alanine racemase-deficient microbial host cell with a polynucleotide construct comprising: i) one or more polynucleotide region providing the property of interest when present in the host cell, and ii) at least one polynucleotide region complementing the d-alanine racemase deficiency when present in the host cell; and b) screening the transformed host cell for the property of interest in the microfluidic device in the absence of externally provided d-alanine.

VECTOR FOR IDENTIFICATION, SELECTION AND EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANTS - A modified vector comprising a reporter gene having a STOP codon upstream of the multiple cloning site of the vector which is characterized in that the recombinant clones show fluoresce or show color in presence of inducer. A method for identification and selection of recombinant clones comprising the modified vector wherein the recombinant clones florescence or show color in a suitable suppressor strain of the STOP codon associated with the gene of interest. A method of preparation of recombinant clone comprising gene of interest and modified vector comprising amplification of gene of interest using specific primers containing STOP codon different from STOP codon used with reporter gene; cloning the amplified gene of interest in the modified vector; transformation of cloned modified vector in the STOP codon suppressor host cell wherein the STOP codon suppressor host cell is specific for STOP codon used with the gene of interest wherein the recombinant clones either fluorescence or show color depending upon the reporter gene used.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING PARASITE INFECTIONS - Systems and methods for diagnosing parasite infections. According to at least one embodiment of a stabilizing system of the present disclosure, a stabilizing system comprises a stabilizing agent useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker for a parasite infection in a body fluid comprising the diagnostic marker and a detection agent capable of detecting the diagnostic marker.

08-11-2011

20110195424

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING FUNGAL INFECTIONS - Systems and methods for diagnosing fungal infections. According to at least one embodiment of a stabilizing system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a stabilizing agent useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker for a fungal infection in a body fluid comprising the diagnostic marker and a detection agent capable of detecting the diagnostic marker.

08-11-2011

20110195423

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING BACTERIAL INFECTIONS - Systems and methods for diagnosing bacterial infections. According to at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system a stabilizing agent useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker for a bacterial infection in a body fluid comprising the diagnostic marker and a detection agent capable of detecting the diagnostic marker.

08-11-2011

20110177521

METHODS AND KITS FOR ISOLATING NUCLEIC ACID FROM AN ORGANISM - The invention generally relates to methods and kits for isolating nucleic acids from an organism. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve contacting a plurality of lytic enzymes to an organism, thereby lysing a cell wall of the organism to release the nucleic acid, and introducing at least one agent to separate the nucleic acid from the lysed cells, thereby isolating the nucleic acid.